BLOGGERS will be using social media to report on their activities during hogmanay in Edinburgh, and will be able to interact with anyone

ONE of the world's biggest New Year celebrations is embracing the digital age with the launch of the first Blogmanay.

Organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay have invited influential travel bloggers from countries around the globe to join their Scottish and UK counterparts and experience events in the city from December 30 to January 1 2013.

Bloggers have been invited from countries as far afield as Australia, the US and Malaysia.

A total of 21 bloggers will use social media and the microsite on Edinburgh's Hogmanay website to report on their activities and interact with anyone using the #blogmanay hashtag anywhere in the world.

All photographs of the celebrations posted to online picture service Instagram marked #blogmanay will be entered into a competition, with the winner claiming a VIP trip to Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2014 and a three-day tour of Scotland with Haggis Adventures.

This year will also see the introduction of a new app which will include programme information, maps, a find my friend function and a dice game to decide your next destination for events on New Year's Day.

Pete Irvine, artistic director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, said: "We are delighted to be able to showcase Edinburgh and Edinburgh's Hogmanay to this group, and to their worldwide audience.

"We know that they will have a fantastic time here in the home of Hogmanay and return home with wonderful memories of Scotland as a must-visit winter destination."

VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said: "We already know Scotland is the perfect stage for events and Hogmanay is undoubtedly one of our prize assets, attracting thousands of visitors to the capital every year.

"As Scotland prepares to welcome the world in 2014, the Blogmanay project is hugely exciting and I am delighted to be welcoming a group of the world's most influential travel bloggers to experience what Scotland and Edinburgh have to offer.

"These writers are hugely influential and their experiences will inspire future visitors to book a trip to experience the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations."

Nick Finnigan, member and chair of Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) 2013 Conference, said: "ETAG brings together the wide range of businesses that make up Edinburgh's diverse tourism sector, encouraging collaboration, innovation and strengthening Edinburgh's position as a world-class visitor destination.

"Edinburgh's Blogmanay captures this spirit perfectly."

Over the three-day festival in Edinburgh, thousands will take part in the torchlight procession on Sunday December 30,

Highlights on the following day will be the street party and concert in the Gardens, with music from Simple Minds, The View and The Maccabees.

There will be various events on January 1, including the new year's day triathlon in Holyrood Park and a miniature festival called Your Lucky Day.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay has worked in partnership with EventScotland, VisitScotland, ETAG, Festivals Edinburgh, Haggis Adventures and Skyscanner to host the first Blogmanay.